Furnace tank construction



Oct. 8, 1935. J. E. McBURNEY C FURNACE TANK CONSTRUCTION Filed March 10,1933 Patented Oct. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I FURNACE TANKCONSTRUCTION James E. McBurney, Alton, Ill., assignor to Owens-IllinoisGlass Company, a

of Ohio Application March 10,

4 Claims.

5 peratures. The invention is herein shown adapted to a furnace tanksuch as used for melting and refining glass.

It has been noted in respect to such tanks that some of the tank blockswithstand the action of molten glass much better than other adjoiningblocks which are apparently of the same composition and which are eatenout or corroded to a much greater extent. I have observed that theseblocks, which are more resistant to the destructive action of the glass,are invariably cracked and that the crack runs substantially-parallel tothe surface exposed to the action of the glass near the center of theblock, that is, about midway between the exposed surfaces of the block.The reasons why these blocks which are cracked withstand erosion betterthan those which are not cracked, are not entirely apparent, butit isbelieved that the difference is due mainly to the two following reasons:First, the inner section of the block when thus cracked is ofpractically a uniform temperature throughout and consequently is freefrom strain and less susceptible to erosion. Second, because of theuniform temperature, particularly along the vertical dimensions of theblock, there are less convection currents in the molten glass whichcontacts with the block and consequently less flow of glass over thesurface of the block.

An object of the present invention is to provide a refractory tank blockso constructed that the above described condition is obtained throughoutthe life of the block as well as being uniform in all the blocks. Tothis end the invention provides a furnace tank construction in which theindividual blocks are so constructed that they provide inner and outersections with interior adjoining faces or surfaces, the integrity of theblock being broken at said surfaces intermediate the external faces ofthe block.

Other objects of the invention will appear 'hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an incomplete tank furnaceconstructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a furnace tank block made in sections,the two sections being shown separated.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are similar views of modification-s.

corporation 1933, Serial No. 660,267

Fig. 6 shows. a further modification in which the block is made in asingle piece.

Referring to Fig. 2, the tank block comprises an outer section l and aseparate inner section I l. The block as a whole is of rectangular shapeand the sections are constructed to provide a dovetailed tongue andgroove connection. For this purpose the inner section II is formed onits inner face with a dovetailed groove or recess l2 and the outersection is formed with a cor-' respondingly shaped tongue l3 to fit saidgroove.

The tongue andgroove extend vertically of the block. In other words, theblock is built into the furnace with the tongue and groove extendingvertically. The edges of the tongue are vertical so that the tongue isof the same width throughout its length. The edges of the groove arealso vertical.

Fig. 3 shows a modification of the tongue and groove. In thisconstruction, the edges M of the dovetail groove are downward andinwardly convergent or tapered. The edges of the dovetail tongue l3 arecorrespondingly tapered.

The interlocking connection between the sections In and H in the twoforms shown in Figs. 2 and 3 serves to hold the sections securelytogether when assembled. Also, if a portion of the inner section shouldbreak while in use, the interlocking construction will usually preventit from flowing away. It will be seen that by tapering the tongue andgroove in the manner illustrated, the inner section II is locked againstupward movement 'relative to the outer section, and thereby preventedfrom floating upward or being lifted out of place by the buoyancy of themolten glass in the tank.

Fig. 4 shows a modification of the tongue and groove structure in whichthe marginal faces l5 of the groove and the corresponding-faces I6 ofthe tongue are perpendicular to the main meeting 40 faces of saidsections.

Fig. 5 shows a further modification in which the tongue and groove aretapered as in the form shown in Fig. 3, but in which the marginal facesI! of the groove and the corresponding faces of the tongue areperpendicular to the major meeting faces of the two block sections. v V

Figure 1 illustrates a tank furnace F adapted for melting and refiningglass, portions of the furnace being omitted to illustrate the presentinvention. As here shown the tank walls are built up of blocks, eachcomprising an outer section l0 and an inner section II having interioradjoining surfaces. It will be seen that this provides a construction inwhich the tank walls .2 virtually consist of an inner wall and an outerwall having interior meeting faces substantially midway between theinner and outer exposed faces of said walls, said walls beinginterlocked by the dovetail construction of the individual blocks. Thisconstruction results when in use, in a substantially uniform or eventemperature being maintained throughout each inner block section,

thereby avoiding strains, rendering the blocks less susceptible toerosion, breaking up, and deterioration. The comparatively uniformtemperature that is thus obtained over the surface of the inner blocksection also materially reduces the convection currents and consequentlyreduces the destructive flow of glass over the surface of the block.

Fig. 6 shows a modification in which the block is made in a singlepiece. Kerfs or slots I8 are cut into the block about midway between themajor faces thereof and parallel with said faces,

- thereby defining outer and inner sections H! and m, respectively.These kerfs extend only part way through the block so that the inner andouter sections are integrally united! As these -kerfs separate the majorportions of the block, they serve in substantially the same manner asdescribed in connection with the other forms of block to equalize thetemperature throughout the inner section of the block and reduce srainand erosion.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of myinvention.

What I claim is:

1. A vertical furnace wall comprising blocks of refractory material,each block comprising an inner section and an outer section havinginternal meeting faces intermediate the major exterior faces of theblock, the outer section of each block being formed with a taperedtongue and the inner section with a corresponding groove to receive saidtongue, each tongue and groove having its lateral edges downwardly andinwardly convergent.

2. A vertical furnace wall comprising blocks of refractory material,each block comprising an inner section and an outer section havinginternal meeting faces intermediate the major exterior faces'of theblock, the outer section of each block being formed with a taperedtongue and the inner section with a correspondinggroove to receive saidtongue, each tongue and groove having its lateral edges downwardly andinwardly convergent, said tongue and groove being shaped to provide aninterlocking connection between the block sections.

3. A vertical furnace wall built of blocks of refractory material, eachblock comprising an inner section and an outer section having internalmeeting faces intermediate the major exterior faces of the block, themeeting faces of each block being formed with interengaging tongue andgroove, the side edges of the tongue and groove being inclined to thevertical and convergent in a direction to lock the inner section of theblock against upward movement relative to the outer section.

4. A vertical furnace wall built of blocks of refractory material, eachblock comprising an inner section and an outer section having internalmeeting faces intermediate the major exterior faces of the block, themeeting faces of each block being formed with interengaging tongue andgroove, the side edges of the tongue and groove being inclined to thevertical and convergent in a direction to lock the inner section of theblock against upward movement relative to the outer section, said tongueand groove being interlocked against separation by relative movement ina direction transverse to the wall.

JAMES E. McBURNEY.

